Innovative and stylish fanfiction, showcasing the very best across multiple sf, fantasy & literature fandoms. Good writing in all its forms can be found here, including gen, het, slash, OCs, AUs, crossovers, future fics, humour & pastiche

Eledhwen tackles the fascinating subject of the characters' adjustments to the different demands of post-War Middle-earth. The piece is elegantly structured as a sequence of interweaving conversations covering a single day in Minas Tirith

What if Frodo were not granted leave to sail to Valinor? This moving story presents an alternative path for the Ringbearer to find healing. If you enjoyed 'Another Way of Leaving', there is now a novel-length sequel, Following the Other Wizard: Journey Into Healing

'He searched but could not find. For twice the lifespan of a man in these diminished days he searched for the one he had lost. Never had it taken so long; always before he had found his love within a hundred years.' This Fourth Age Legolas/Gimli story runs with a highly unusual premise to its poignant ending, and features an interesting version of the much older Elf. Well worth a read despite a scattering of typos

Faramir finishes some business for his brother. Delicate and believable characterisations, both of those present and those absent. Sequel to Closer to Fine and To Look at You, but works equally well read independently

All Isabeau's works showcase her great gift for detail, dialogue and characterisation; 'Discretion' & 'Discovery' also feature hot sex and an unusual & deftly drawn OC. The saga of Boromir's love life continues in the 'Best-loved Son' series by Isabeau, Dwimordene & Altariel, while Andrahar's background is more fully expored in Isabeau's unfinished 'Kin-strife'; both can be accessed via the author's website

Division and despair among the Steward's family, as the Shadow over Gondor grows deeper. A thoughtful novel, with precisely observed characters and rich details of Minas Tirith life. That Which Remains Us forms a moving short sequel, inspired by a challenge to write Denethor's poetry

'"But you are not in the Shire," Galadriel said. She smiled again and it was more dangerous than Sam's glare. "You would do well not to refuse my requests."' Halrloprillalar treads gaily (cough) through a whole raft of fanfic clichÉs in this delightful humorous short

Set around Bree before the events of LotR, this rollicking adventure never takes itself too seriously. Believable characterisations, with some well-drawn original characters that won't have anyone calling in the Mary-Sue Exterminators

Shire society brought to life: prejudice, intrafamilial politics and all. This thoughtful story is one of the very few to treat hobbits as the complex and not entirely benign adults that Tolkien wrote. If you enjoyed 'Legacy', the author has completed a novel-length sequel, On Merry Yule

'He wore soft green moss, and small black snakes about his branches and darting silver fish between his toes. He bent his long locks to trail in the cool water, and all the spirits of the moist places were with him.' An unusual & thoughtful vignette, imbued with a strong sense of melancholy. Beautiful

A reporter on the Fortean Times finds more than she expects when she travels to Cornwall on an investigation. Before I read this story, I didn't believe this premise could ever be made to work, but I'm very glad to have been proved wrong!

FayJay offers some surprising insights into the deep places of Gríma's heart in this well-written character study. As far as I'm aware, 'Nor Iron Bars a Cage' is the author's first foray into the Tolkien fandom, and one can only hope that she writes more!

'She woke hungry. The River slept while winter ruled, but she slept empty, with dreams of food and blood her companion during the long, dark months.' A deliciously creepy glimpse of Goldberry, with a haunting ending

I don't usually recommend unfinished stories, but 'The Old Dwarf and the Sea' is well worth reading for the first chapter alone. A simply hilarious antidote to the usual run of stories about LotR characters in the West, with some priceless characterisations

Many authors have tackled the subject of Frodo and Sam's journey through Mordor, but Teasel breathes fresh life into the subject. This gem of a story works beautifully on so many levels -- I cannot recommend it as highly as it deserves

'For the most part, the rivers were content to sing, to reflect the world around them, and to seek the great sea in a slow winding course. But in a shadowy glade green with moss and great ferns – though there were no flowers yet – a young streamlet more curious than the others splashed out of her bed and tried to follow her.' An origin story for Goldberry. Unusual & memorable, with a perfect ending

'He needs to make this sea voyage, and to not make it.' An engaging narrative voice & a memorable OC draw the reader into this Fourth Age tale. The backstory is a little weak, perhaps, but the frame story makes up for it

One of the more inventive premises I've ever seen in this fandom, thoughtfully executed, with a good mix of angst and humour. Give 'Tempus Edax Rerum' a try if you want something well off the beaten track and are prepared to put up with the occasional grammatical slip

The Legolas--Gimli relationship has spawned quite a bit of 'first-time' fanfiction, not all of it great. Brancher uses the genre intelligently to examine the preconceptions and fears of the two races in this engaging piece

In the best tradition of fanfiction, Forodwaith takes a few meagre sentences from canon and unpacks them to cast fresh light on the enigma that is Arwen -- her strengths, her loves, and her sacrifices. Magical

I'll let this well constructed and very interesting essay sell itself: '"Sex" and "Tolkien" may seem like a contradiction in terms. It is often believed that Tolkien's works as a whole are sexless, boyish and innocent, based on the lack of sexual content in his novel The Lord of the Rings. This is not true. Sex and libido are present in Tolkien’s vision of Middle-Earth; indeed, it's inevitable in such a complete portrait of an imaginary world. Sex is marginalized in Lord of the Rings, is a destructive undercurrent in The Silmarillion, and is given rare, yet frank mentions in Tolkien’s extensive backstory of Middle-Earth. Passionate love, transgressive desire, denied sexual fulfilment, and rape are plot points in several stories. Libido and sexual love are even portrayed positively, when they take place within the proper moral bounds.'

'She prays for a quick death. She prays for the beasts to come before nightfall, to rip at her throat so she will never feel the pangs of thirst.' Thoughtful drabble series exploring Haradric beliefs. There's also a prequel, Turtles All the Way Down, though I felt it was stronger alone

Tolkien meets Raymond Chandler meets James Bond in this witty and inventive romp through Fourth Age Middle-earth. WKAC features a large cast of engaging original characters, plus delightful cameos from many of the major players. The author assures us that no canon was injured in the production of this fanfiction

'...others sold bows of ice and arrows of fire, or rainbow-furred mice and winged salamanders in silver cages, or shafts of sunlight that could be wrapped up and carried away.' Descriptive writing good enough to eat, with a wonderful evocation of fairy. Simply magical!

'"Seek for the shield which is oaken; in Khazad-dûm it dwells."' A rich, complex AU novel that fuses The Hobbit with LotR, in which the quest to destroy the Ring sets out 50 years earlier, & with a rather different Fellowship. Events start out mirroring LotR closely, but spiral further away as the novel unfolds; perhaps because of the time shift, things often turn out less tragically than in the original. Mithen explores novel regions of Middle-earth & provides a supporting cast of thousands, including Entwives & Blue Wizards. A real treat!

Deborah's interpretation of the aside from The Silmarillion which contributes the title. Strong characterisations make this story compulsively readable. The tale is continued in When I am Wise, Naming the Stones & In the Seventh Age, also all well worth a look

I don't often recommend fan poetry; in the Tolkien fandom, especially, it's hard to find the line between rhyming doggerel & free verse that feels rather disconnected from the source. Wild Iris writes some of the best Tolkien-inspired poetry I've encountered, and this understated lament on the Kinslaying (part of a sequence which can be found at Speak Again) is among my favourites

Tolkien provided a wealth of names in footnotes, and here one of them is brought to life. Along the way, the reader is treated to details of everyday life for elves and dwarves, thoughts on the nature of craftsbeingship, and glimpses into the very different philosophies of the two races. While the slash subplot doesn't quite work with the rest of the piece, in my opinion, the story is well worth reading anyway

A unique blend of humour & drama, cast in Shakespearean form with modern informal English and priceless anti-fanon characterisations -- P@L's take on Luthien & Beren's tale has simply got to be read to be believed. Acts I-III are complete and stand alone; Act IV languishes incomplete

Zimraphel's answer to why Tar-Miriel remained behind when Numenor fell. Eleventh Hour successfully lends flesh to the bare bones of Tolkien's narrative, and creates a sympathetic character for the doomed Queen

The first fanfiction featuring a Petty Dwarf I've encountered, 'Felagund and the Noegyth Nibin' manages to give a sympathetic yet plausible view of the race. Also features a wonderful peek at Finrod Felagund. Highly recommended

Maedhros learns lessons about glass-blowing and other matters. Delicate characterisation of the young elf makes this a poignant and memorable story. First part in the author's Maedhros Saga, but can be read independently

'"I need something made which has never been crafted since the beginning of the world," she said firmly. "I need an impossible Thing."' This conversation piece, set in Valinor, has an intriguing take on the problem of orcs (crossover with LotR)

'Grandpa Finny (and if you're confusing him already with Uncle Fenny and his brothers Fin and Little Finny, you aren't from Bliss yourself) was always keen on having sons. Definitely sons plural; he had his heart set on populating our little corner of Bliss all by himself.' Southern Gothic retelling of The Silmarillion, with Galadriel as a small-town Southern girl. It works amazingly well

'Beleg Cúthalion heard the airlock decompress behind him with a hiss like an arrow's strike.' A host of unexpected details mark this inventive Elves-in-Space futurefic. It's a bit of a shame the ending goes back to a more Tolkienian mode, but getting there is enormous fun

Detailed scene setting and solid characterisations make this tale of Galadriel & Celeborn's courtship a winner. But it's more than just a romance -- Marnie sets the budding relationship against the interracial tensions seeded by the Noldor's arrival in Beleriand. The sequel, Seeds of Old Trees, tells the other end of their story

'When Durin awoke from the sleep the Maker laid him, the world was still young, and the light unsullied.' A beautiful little vignette with an unexpected answer to one of the fandom's more commonly asked questions

'Elwing breathed deeply, taking in the scent of salt, the sense of joyous flight and untrammeled freedom. She almost thought the wind spoke to her sometimes, saying her name in a voice full of affection.' A novel take on Elwing's motivations when she casts herself out of the window

Like Honesty's Bargaining for Beginners, this story breathes life into Narvi, co-creator of the Doors of Moria. Like Bargaining, it contains a thoughtful exploration of the complex relationships between different races. Strong characterisations, great details and a dash of humour enrich this story, though I confess to being a little conflicted over the romance plot

'There were moments, Maeglin reflected, when it was mightily annoying to be the prince of Gondolin.' One of the most convincing views of Gondolin I've encountered, as Tyellas deftly creates an entire city, with politics & gossip, romance & rivalry, to surround her Machiavellian Prince

'We know where we stand -- squarely on the ground. We have no promises of time or of the West. We have to take what we want now.'
A unique insight into the thoughts of a First Age orc in this beautifully written vignette. (Based in the Book of Lost Tales II)

'But you learn, in searching after light, that there is a beauty too in utter darkness.' Morgoth is perhaps the hardest of Tolkien's characters to bring to life, but this well-written vignette has some interesting & unusual insights into why he might have chosen the path he did

'Unforgettable Fire' takes an unflinching look at the many hazards of love between different races and cultures. The refreshing choice of characters outside the 'usual suspects' of Silmarillion fanfiction is another bonus. One of my favourite Tolkien-based romances